Images play an important part in telling a congregation’s story. As thepopular saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Photos andvideos allow you to share what God is doing in your congregation withothers through your website and social media presence. As more imagesare shared online, it is important that leaders know when, how and whypermission is needed for photography and videography at congregationalevents. Here are some tips for ensuring you have the consent necessary to use and share images of congregational life at your church:

Reasonable Expectation of Privacy Whether or not you are legally allowed to photographor take a video of someone without written consent depends on what is called “reasonableexpectation of privacy.” in general, it is ok to photograph people in public places, such as on thestreet or in a park, because there’s no expectation of privacy. Churches are considered publicspaces, but not all events held in church are public; some events, especially those involving childrenor vulnerable adults, require written permission from participants or their parents/guardians if acongregation would like to take and share photos/videos.

When is written consent required for photos/videos at a church event?Photographs and video of adults participating in public events that take place in churches, such asworship and concerts, are ok to use without written permission if the people photographed are notindividually identified and they are aware that their photo may be taken. it is best practice to notifythose attending that they will be photographed by posting a sign at each entrance and making anannouncement. be sure the explanation on the sign is short and concise but very clear about thephotographs/videos. if possible, it is also a good idea to have a section of the church designated as an area that will not be photographed.

if the people being photographed will be identified or there is areasonable expectation of privacy, such as at a private church event or achurch event held in someone’s home, you must obtain written consent.

Sample Wording for Photography Notification Photographs and/or videos may be taken in this worship service.

by entering and attending the service, you acknowledge and agree thatyour likeness may be included in photos and videos of the service andused by [insert name of church here] in online and printcommunications.

if you do not agree to this usage, please notify one of the usher/greetersor sit in the section marked as a non-photo zone.

This document gathersgeneral best practicesrelated to photo consent.as media related lawsvary from province toprovince, the tips offeredin this document do notconstitute legal advice. if your ministry hasspecific concerns aboutphoto consent, weencourage you to seekout an attorney withexpertise in media law.

PhoTograPhy Tips for the effective use of

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Photos/Videos with Children Always seek written permission from a parent or guardianbefore taking photographs or video of anyone under the age of majority (18 or 19, depending onyour province). Permission can be incorporated into registration for church events (e.g. sundayschool, Vbs, day camps, youth trips) by having parents/guardians sign a photo/video release form.no names or personal information should be shared alongside photographs of children. be sure to check all photos and videos before sharing to ensure that you have consent forms from theparents/guardians of all minors who are included.

What type of photo release form do we need to use? Churches using photosof children, vulnerable adults, or anyone who will be individually identified must receive writtenpermission from those in the photos or their parents/guardians. This is also the case with photostaken at events where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as support groupgatherings, prayer group meetings or programs with vulnerable populations. as well, church eventsthat take place in someone’s personal residence, such as a bible study, are considered private.

When creating a photo/video release form, it is best to ask for broad permission to publish anddistribute images rather than asking to use the photos/videos in just one place. even if you onlywant to post it on your church’s website now, you may want to use it in the future as part a churchnewsletter or on social media. it is also important to receive broad permission because once animage is online you may not easily be able to control how it is used and shared.

Sample Photo/Video Release Form For a sample photo/video release form, please visitThe Presbyterian Church in Canada website: presbyterian.ca/photos.

Request for Removal of Photo or Video if you receive a request to remove a photoor video from your website or social media pages by someone in the photograph or his/her parentor guardian, honour that request. it is unethical and, in many cases, illegal to use someone’s photowithout their permission or refuse to remove it if they revoke permission.

Photo Shelf Life even with permission, photos should not be used indefinitely by a church. at least once a year, review the photos on your website and update as necessary. any photos thatare more than a couple years old should not be used in church publications or online. Please notethat it is also best practice to remove photos of anyone who is deceased from the website as soonas possible, unless instructed otherwise by their families.

A few questions to ask before deciding whether to post a photo or video: • do you have the permission you need from

those in the photo/video?

• does the photo/video intrude on a privatemoment, private property, or event whereprivacy would be expected?

• does the photo/video portray those in it in apositive or neutral light?

nb: avoid posting photos that portray someonein an objectionable or unflattering way.

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